Car-coupling.



PATENTED APR. 1.8, 1905. G. W. BARPIELD.

GAB. COUPLING.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 4. 1905.

(il x wen for,

George llf.' agfllelc Witnesses attorno] UNTTED STATES Parent-ed April 18, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE 1V. BARFIELD, OF NORTH BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.. |787,819, dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed January 4,1905. Serial No. 239,640.

Re it known that I, (1l-neuen 1V. BARF1 n LD, of North Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented ce1'- tain new and useful Improvements in Oar- Oouplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact {,lescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

The primary object of this invention is to provide means for preventing' wafer and foreign matter from entering'theehamber of the draw-head through the opening' formed to accommodate the locking-pin and which means also serves as a fulcrum for the pin when tilted by the inward swing of the knuckl.; and further objects are to provide means for preventing the locking-pin from being' forced laterally out of its proper plane and also to provide simple and inexpensive means for preventing water, &e., from entering' the opening' for the knuckle pivot-pin.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying' drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view with the locking'- pin shown in different positions. Fig. 2 is a plan view with the locking-pin in section. Fig. 3 is a view of the locking-pin removed.

Referring' to the drawings, 1 designates the draw-bar, and Q the chambered head having', as customary in this type of couplers, opposite ,jaws 3 and l, and a knuckle 5, pivotally mounted between said jaws, such knuckle having' a tong'ue 6, desig'ned to swing inwardly within the chambered head. lVhen the inner end of the tongue strikes the locking-pin S, it will force the latter rearwardly until clear thereof, whereupon the locking'- pin will swing forwardly and by engagement therewith of the squared portion 9 of the tongue will hohl the knuckle locked. The

By reason of this construction the peripheral edge of the head of the pin being' some distance beyond the groove and ridge, water and other foreign matter are prevented vfrom entering' the opening' formed in the jaw and knuckle and also from coming in contact with the spring' 13, which acts on the knuckle.

The locking-pin 8 is located centrally within the chambered head and fits between parallel walls 11, forming an upward central extension of such head. These walls supporta cross-bolt 15, which is passed transversely through a longitudinal slot 16 in the locking'- pin, such cross-bolt serving' to prevent the latter from being raised too high in unlocking' the knuckle. The opening' in the top of head 2 is surrounded by a rectangular rib 1T; but that portion of the rib forward of the opening' is considerably higher than the remaining' portions. The locking-pin is formed with a flange 18, which is designed when the pin is lowered to overlap the rib 17, and thereby prevent water, snow, and dirt from entering' through the opening in the top of the head. That portion of flange 1S extending forwardly over the raised portion of rib 1T is higher than the remaining' portion of such flange, so as to accommodate the increased height of the forward portion of such rib. This forms a fulcrum 'for the locking'- pin upon which the latter swings when forced rearwardly by the engagement therewith of the inner end of the knuckle-tongue, as shown in dotted lines, Fig'. 1. Thus the flange and cooperating rib which serve to prevent the entrance of water, snow, zc., through the locking-pin opening also act as the support for the locking-pin as the latter is moved rearwardly as the knuckle is being' moved into place in the coupling'. As soon as the knuckle has traveled its full extent, the locking-pin will by gravity swing forward, and its flange 18 will entirely surround the rib 1T and prevent entrance of foreign substances through the opening' in the head.

I have shown at 19 a safety shoe or hook depending from the under side of the drawhead, so as to prevent an outwardly-drawn d raw-head from falling beneath the car. This safety-shoe ts in a socket on the under side of the draw-head, wherein it is secured by a bolt 2l.

The advantages of my invention are apparent. It will be seen that l have provided eX- tremely simple and inexpensive means for preventing the entrance ot' water, snow, and dirt into the openings for the pivot and lockingpins and that the means provided for this purpose also serves as a ulcrum for the locking'- pin.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with thedraW-head having a pivoted knuckle and an opening in its top, and a rib surrounding said opening, of the locking-pin fitted in said opening and having a flange for engaging said rib, said rib being higher at one point than another to form a fulcrum for said pin.

2. The combination with the draw-head having a pivoted knuckle and an opening in its top, and a rib surrounding said opening, the

ing an opening and a rib or ridge surround-V ing said opening, of a knuckle, and a pivotpin therefor fitted in said opening and having its head formed with a groove to accommodate said ridge, said groove being some distance inwardly from the periphery of said head.

In testimony whereof I have signed this Specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE WV. BARFIELD.

Vitnesses:

C. M. GREEN, E. P. HARRIS. 

